Cooper Quarterly S P R I N G
N E W S L E T T E R
2 0 1 9
Legacy
Living
AMY MEYER BARRENTINE REMEMBERS HER FATHER’S
The Cooper Institute®
FRED MEYER
What does it mean to leave a legacy? Our founding trustee, the late Fred Meyer, understood the importance of legacy to future generations. As the founding trustee and CEO of The Cooper Institute, Meyer understood the importance of service. He also shared our passion for fitness and healthy living. Meyer began running in the 1960s, and became an advocate of the work of Dr. Kenneth H. Cooper in the early 70s.
The Cooper Institute®
MEYER SOCIETY
Planned Giving
“Dad always gave a sizeable portion of his income to the causes he believed in and The Cooper Institute was primary in his giving selections,” said Amy Meyer Barrentine, Meyer’s daughter. “He wanted our country to improve childhood fitness levels and reduce the financial and physical burden of diabetes, heart disease and age-related decline.” His $1 million gift allowed the The Cooper Institute to lay the foundation for The Meyer Society Planned Giving program, inspiring others to build our endowment into a sustaining legacy of life-changing research and education. “He felt strongly that the work done here would have a meaningful and lasting impact on generations to come,” said Barrentine, who serves as the honorary chair for the The Meyer Society.
This year, we are proud to feature Margaret Spellings at the Meyer Society Lecture Series. Spellings is the former president of the University of North Carolina System and U.S. Secretary of Education under President George W. Bush. She is now a senior consultant at Texas 2036, a nonpartisan initiative to ensure the long-term success of Texas through data-driven, long-range policy development. The event will be moderated by U.S. Ambassador Jeanne L. Phillips, the senior vice president of corporate engagement and international relations for Hunt Consolidated, Inc. She is also on the board of trustees for The Cooper Institute. The Meyer Society Lecture Series will be held May 9 at The Cooper Institute from 7:00 - 8:30 p.m.
The Meyer Society Lecture Series was born out of this desire to make a lasting impact. This dynamic, speaker-driven event aims to increase high-level engagement and education.
Tickets available online at cooperinstitute.org/meyersociety/ lectureseries
The inaugural event featured William H. McRaven, former Chancellor of the University of Texas and retired Navy admiral, sharing his powerful story of the impact of fitness in his life.
For more information and sponsorship opportunities contact Amy Johnson at ajohnson@cooperinst.org or 214.543.6533.
Please consider The Cooper Institute in your estate planning. Leave a legacy of research to help future generations live #WELLintothefuture.
Please contact Amy Johnson at ajohnson@cooperinst.org or 214.543.6533.
VOLUNTEERS LEAD THE CHARGE IN AUSTIN On March 4, volunteers and staff from The Cooper Institute traveled to Austin to educate the 86th Texas Legislature about the importance of building a healthier generation now and Well. Into the Future. Billed as March Forth to the Capitol, the event was held on Dr. Kenneth H. Cooper’s 88th birthday and included a birthday celebration at the end of the day. Dr. Cooper pioneered aerobic research and led Texas to be the first state to adopt FitnessGram by The Cooper Institute as the statewide student fitness assessment.
Bob Shapard and Kenneth Cooper
Tedd Mitchell and Kenneth Cooper join volunteers to celebrate his 88th birthday
The Cooper Institute March Forth Capitol Day Volunteers: (Left to Right) 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.
Tim DeViese – YMCA of Metropolitan Dallas Karen Schwind – New Braunfels ISD Whitney Strauss - AdvoCare Foundation Felicia Ceasar White – Houston ISD Helen Wagner – Humble ISD Troy Williams – AdvoCare Foundation Michaela Bernacchio – Children’s Health Oswaldo Alvarenga - Dallas ISD
9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16.
Stephen W. Love - Dallas Hospital Council - Lead Denise Kablaitis - Pflugerville ISD Becca Harkleroad - Lake Travis ISD Laura DeFina, MD – The Cooper Institute Kenneth Cooper, MD, MPH – The Cooper Institute Millie Cooper - The Cooper Institute Bob Shapard - Oncor Debbie Dennis – Oncor
17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22.
Tedd Mitchell, MD – Texas Tech University System Steve Good - Foley Gardere Amy Johnson – The Cooper Institute Jim Bass – Communities Foundation of Texas; Trinity Summits, LLC Angie Cooper – Community Volunteer Jennifer Wagoner – Community Volunteer
Volunteers came from all across the state to urge legislators to continue using evidence-based research from FitnessGram to improve student health and put them on track for a lifetime of healthy habits. This valuable tool is helping turn the tide of childhood obesity by giving school and community leaders the data they need to make the best decisions for student health and fitness. Our volunteers recognize the power of advocacy and grassroots activism. The day started with a luncheon at The Texas Tribune offices across the street from the capitol. Bob Shapard, Chairman of the board at Oncor, served as chair of the event and introduced our featured luncheon speaker, Dr. Tedd Mitchell, chancellor of the Texas Tech University System and president of the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center.
Bob Shapard, Kenneth Cooper, Tedd Mitchell, Millie Cooper
Mitchell, who also serves as board president for The Cooper Institute, spoke about how emerging technology over the last 50 years has led to a decrease in physical activity and an increase in health problems at all ages. “Technology has made our lives better in so many ways. It has also made us sedentary and that leads to long-term health problems,” said Mitchell. “We have to find other ways to stay active and teach our children to be active so they can live a long, healthy life.” As a physician and leader of one of Texas’ six state university systems, Mitchell understands better than anyone the importance of preparing students for success.
“Our children are the future workforce of Texas and we need them to be healthy so they can be better students now and the best workers tomorrow,” said Mitchell.
Kenneth Cooper, Millie Cooper, Angie Cooper, Sen. Bryan Hughes
Kenneth Cooper and Rep. Candy Nobble
Following the luncheon, the team “marched forth” to the capitol to meet with representatives and senators. The teams spread out to educate lawmakers on research from The Cooper Institute and other health organizations that show the long-range physical, mental and economic impact of poor health. While Texas is thriving economically, surging healthcare costs could change that trajectory for everyone if we don’t act now to improve public health statewide. Research from The Cooper Institute has helped shape policy and changed lives, but the fight isn’t over. By improving student health today, we will ensure that Texas children are the healthy, productive, and highly-skilled workers of tomorrow and WELL. Into the Future. Oswaldo Alvarenga, Jim Bass, Rep. J.D. Sheffield, Laura DeFina, Steve Good, Joel Romo
Texas 21 - House Bill 749 by Rep. John Zerwas and Senate Bill 21 by Sen. Joan Huffman
Rep. J.D. Sheffield’s staff and Laura DeFina discuss the benefits of FitnessGram
Kenneth Cooper and Rep. Lynn Stucky
Stephen Love, Troy Williams, Jennifer Wagoner, Rep. Carl Sherman, Bob Shapard, Michaela Bernacchio, Debbie Dennis
“Our children are the future workforce of Texas and we need them to be healthy so they can be better students now and the best workers tomorrow,” - Tedd Mitchell, The Cooper Institute Board of Trustees Chairman
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The Cooper Institute was founded in 1970 by Dr. Kenneth H. Cooper as a nonprofit organization with a simple vision to prove that exercise is medicine.
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The Cooper Institute Board of Trustees: Kenneth H. Cooper, MD, MPH Chairman Emeritus Tedd Mitchell, MD Chairman of the Board Charles Anderson Vice Chairman of the Board Stephen D. Good Secretary of the Board
Troy Aikman Arthur M. Blank Brian O. Casey Thomas W. Codd Tyler C. Cooper, MD, MPH Susan Dell Elmer L. Doty Tony Evans, ThD David D. Glass
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Executive Leadership Laura F. DeFina, MD, FACP Chief Executive Officer
Inside this Issue: Cooper Quarterly Newsletter Living Legacy: Amy Meyer Barrentine remembers her father’s gift
Volunteers Lead the Charge in Austin
What does it mean to leave a legacy? Our founding trustee, the late Fred Meyer, understood the importance of legacy to future generations.
On March 4, volunteers and staff from The Cooper Institute traveled to Austin to educate the 86th Texas Legislature about the importance of building a healthier generation now and Well. Into the Future.
You are Cordially Invited TO THE
MEYER SOCIETY LECTURE SERIES FEATURING SPONSORED BY:
MODERATOR
U.S. AMBASSADOR (RET.) JEANNE L. PHILLIPS SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, CORPORATE ENGAGEMENT & INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS Hunt Consolidated, Inc.
HONORARY CHAIR
AMY MEYER BARRENTINE Daughter of Fred Meyer, whose vision, leadership and impactful gift is the foundation of the Meyer Society.
MARGARET SPELLINGS EDUCATION THOUGHT LEADER AND PUBLIC POLICY EXPERT
Join The Cooper Institute for a special evening with Margaret Spellings, former president of the University of North Carolina System and U.S. Secretary of Education under President George W. Bush. Spellings is a senior consultant at Texas 2036, a nonpartisan initiative to ensure the long-term success of Texas through data-driven, long-range policy development.
Thursday, MAY 9, 2019 THE COOPER INSTITUTE
PURCHASE TICKETS: WWW.COOPERINSTITUTE.ORG/ MEYERSOCIETY/LECTURESERIES For more information, please contact Amy Johnson at ajohnson@cooperinst.org or 214.543.6533.
12330 Preston Road, Dallas, Texas 75230
RECEPTION 7:00 PM | PROGRAM 7:30 PM BUSINESS ATTIRE RECOMMENDED
PREVENTIVE THINKING:
What Texas Policymakers Can Learn From the Long-Term Approach of The Cooper Institute and Why It Matters
